76 MEXICO. their hopes of preferment in one focus : the shghtest in- terference, on the part of any other power, would have dis- turbed this unity of plan ; and, consequently, the designs of the Court of Rome were watched with as much jealousy, and suspicion, as the attempts of the English, or French, to smug- gle in their manufactures; — a crime, any participation in which, on the part of a native, was regarded as almost worse than treason itself. Besides the great establishments which we have passed in review, there was another most important branch, the collec- tion of the customs, and revenue, in which a host of officers were employed, under the direction of the Intendentes, each of whom presided over a district, in the extent, and number, of which the territorial divisions of each colony consisted. In the present order of things, the limits of the old Inten- dancies have often served to regulate the number of the States, of which the new Republics are composed. In all questions respecting the interests of the revenue, the Inten- dentes possessed very extensive powers, and, as their appoint- ment emanated from the Council of the Indies, without the concurrence of the Viceroy, in their own provinces they were almost independent. The command of the troops was vested in the Viceroy in person, who regulated the military operations, and filled up all vacancies ; it being understood, that promotions made by him would receive the King's sanction. He was assisted, in this part of his duties, by a Council of war, (Junta de guerra,) as he was, in judicial questions, by a Fiscal, or legal adviser, to whom the law of the case was referred: all sen- tences of every kind bore his signature, nor was there any appeal from his decision. To each, and all, of these great offices, (not excepting the viceregal dignity,) all the subjects of the crown were alike eligible, without any distinction between Americans and Europeans. Indeed, there is hardly any point upon which
